Onwards & upwards…

Sometimes you just have to get worse before you can get better.
For months I suffered with a sore knee, living on pain killers, wearing a brace but just getting on with things. Then came the point when I could no longer play tennis, moving from side to side had become too painful. I work for a physiotherapist and when weeks of treatment from him did nothing to help, I went to the doctor and was sent for X-rays. A few days later I rang for the results, only to be told it was completely normal. So on I soldiered, believing it must be all in my head and I was imagining the pain. A few months later and still no improvement, in fact it was deteriorating, and fast; I couldn’t even do the weekly shopping without arriving home nearly unable to walk. My boss (physio) sent me to a knee specialist who took one look at the X-rays and told me I had a displaced kneecap; I just looked at him in disbelief, this was the same X-ray that the doctor had told me was completely normal! I then had an MRI where further damage was revealed, showing my knee was in fact a total mess, so surgery for me!
Now, 6 weeks later I am well on the road to recovery. I still have pain but it’s a good pain, (if that makes any sense) because I know it’s getting better. My mantra has become there’s no gain without pain!
I have also come to the realisation that you should always seek help sooner rather than later, and you should always seek a specialist’s opinion. They are experts in their field and will know the right thing to do.

I am better than I was yesterday, but not as good as I will be tomorrow.”